Can anyone recommend a car service between Naples and Pompeii---and possibly a guide in the same package?
If you know of only a car service that you can recommend, I'm happy to hear suggestions.
I'm looking to avoid the Circumvesuviana---or at least fantasizing about doing so.
(we are a family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers).
Thank you,
SuzieeQQ
I'm looking to avoid the Circumvesuviana---or at least fantasizing about doing so.
Honestly, the Circumvesuviana is fine. As long as you have some common sense (the same common sense that you should have in Rome, Naples and anytime when you leave your house, for that matter) you will be fine. It's a commuter train, not fancy, not particularly pretty (inside), but perfectly functional, perfectly safe, quite inexpensive. There's no reason to fear it.
Suzie,
One car service that's often recommended is Monetti Taxi, which I believe is listed in the guidebook.
Take the Circ and use the RS audio download.
The train cars may not look pretty on the outside, but they do the job just fine. I was more ill at ease in NYC subways.
The train cars may not look pretty on the outside, but they do the job
just fine. I was more ill at ease in NYC subways.
I'll echo that: we've used metros, commuter trains and public rail transit other places, including the US, that weren't any better. The Circ. is cheap, used by the locals, and gets the job done. You'll only be on it 30 minutes or so, and it won't be as overly warm inside the carriages in Dec. as during high season. Probably not quite as busy, either. Anyway, we took it to Pompeii and back with no issue and would do it again.
Tours: you might look into Mondo Tours? This is a special arrangement between Rick Steves and the company which allow indie travelers to 'share' a selection of their small-group tours. They are very reasonably priced and I've heard good things about them. They've a 2-hour Pompeii tour which you might find to your liking:
After your tour is over, I'd spend some more time exploring the excavation as it's very, very large and can't be covered in just a few hours. You do need to meet the guide AT the scavi so would be using the Circ or a hired driver - whatever you decide - to get there.
In high season (late May) we found the Circumvesuviana unpleasant enough to use the hotel's car service back to Naples. We also ride metros all over the world, but it was the elbow to stomach crowding, lack of seats, heat, and difficulty of full size suitcases that persuaded us. I don't care about the musicians. Being charged 15 Euros for a taxi from the CV station to our Sorrento hotel (Ambasciatori) tipped the balance.
It's not purely a car service, but the Ambasciatori's local travel agency partner is in this thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/how-do-i-get-from-pompeii-to-positano-is-there-a-direct-route
Personally, I wouldn't avoid it for such a short trip. The heat is a non-issue in December. It's a good way to see how locals live and get around.
Sorry, cant recommend a car service. We (wife and I) took the CV for 3 round trips this past May. Not a big deal. As others mention, it's no worse than a NYC subway. As for a tour, we signed up right there at the Pompeii Scavi Station. Here is a trick if you can do it. We were going to just do a big group tour, but as we were standing there, a family of 4 from Philadelphia was considering a "family" tour with a minimum of 8 people. They asked us if we would like to join their family. We then grabbed a couple from UK to complete our family group of 8. So we got a private tour for just a little more than a group tour. We had a great time...
Take the CV. I would only avoid it if taking luggage along, too crowded at certain times of day. The stop is adjacent to Pompeii’s entrance, so easy.
There are guides available at the entrance as well.
I'm a lifelong user of NYC public transit, and the Circ was better than most subways. (Except the graffiti, which I find to be rampant in Southern Italy). I find a lot of the hysteria about it to be overblown. It's super cheap and convenient. I rode it on Thanksgiving Day in 2016 and hardly anyone was on it going towards Pompeii at 9AM.
Make sure you get off at Pompeii Scavi and the excavation will be right there. There were lots of guides milling about outside, even in low season.
Make sure you get off at Pompeii Scavi and the excavation will be
right there.
Right. You want to get off at POMPEI SCAVI VILLA DEI MISTERI. Current train schedule here:
https://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Napoli%20Sorrento%20v1_0.pdf
And in reverse:
https://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Sorrento%20Napoli%20%20%20v1.pdf
You will get on and off the train in Naples at NAPOLI P. GARIBALDI: it's connected to Napoli Centrale
What about the Circumvesuviana/Campania Express (EAV) train? Isn't that a better option for sitting in nicer and less crowded cars?
https://www.eavsrl.it/web/cuma-express-2018
The Express only runs during high and shoulder seasons, not in winter.
http://www.napoliunplugged.com/campania-express-tourist-train-to-herculaneum-pompeii-and-sorrento
This Pompeii tour company will pick you up at your hotel in Naples: https://toursofpompeii.com/index.html
My family was so exhausted after 5 hot (but amazing!) days in Rome that I almost canceled our Pompeii tour (I scheduled it for the day after we arrived in the Amalfi Coast - not a good idea in hindsight). I'm so glad we went ahead though. The driver (Antonio) was so interesting and engaging. He talked about Italian politics with my father-in-law, his family with my mother-in-law, and Netflix with my kids. Rosanna was our tour guide and I cannot say enough good things about her. She was able to provide an excellent tour, steer us around the crowds, and even find some shady spots, all while taking the time to converse with each of us individually. She and my mother-in-law were arm-in-arm by the end of the tour :). Rosanna's energy was contagious and it really stuck with us for the rest of our trip.
And they can meet you at Pompeii, as well, if you decide to take the train.
I have taken the Circumvesuviana in both December and May. In May I abhored it due to crowding and pickpockets (my son called one out before he got me).
In Dec it was fine! Not crowded at all and I felt safe.
The best guide is Gaetano Manfredi. He is a RS pick and well worth the price. You are lucky to go in Dec! We had a clear if chilly day and practically had the site to ourselves.
I had read so many horror stories about the Circumvesuviana that I was terrified when we were waiting to board. I should have known better. Yes, be cautious just like in any city. The worst think we encountered on the train was the people performing for tips. If you don't want to give money then don't. It's that simple. Other than that it was just fine, and we rode it several times.
For those saying it's no worse than the NY subway, remember that many of us on the forum aren't regulars on the NY subway either. I've only used the NY subway once-it was just too dirty for my taste, as compared to those in DC, Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, not to mention those in Europe. On my bucket list of skills to learn is the NY bus system.
It's not just the point that it's people are unfamiliar with the subway, it's the hysteria that we often see about ANY public transportation on most travel boards. The teeming, unwashed masses exist everywhere - even in Alabama. ;)
That said, the NYC bus system isn't the easiest thing to master - but I encourage you to try! There are times I have been on the M4 because I was too exhausted to walk after a long day or was carrying something heavy, only to see people walking down the sidewalk faster than we were moving. I love trying out public transportation in other places. To me it's a great learning opportunity to see how regular people move about their days. Not everyone has the luxury of that sort of time on a trip, but if you do, try it out! And if you make a mistake the most you have probably wasted is the equivalence of a few bucks.
LOL, Cala! It wasn't any worse than the "L" in Chicago! Or the Tube in London or Metro in Paris or Rome, for that matter. I guess getting used to multiple forms of local transport is a good exercise for travelers who can't or don't want to pay high taxi/driver fares (or waste time sitting in heavy traffic) to get where they want to go?
I'm the original poster and my intention was not to add to a sense of hysteria about crime which can happen anywhere.
I have used mass transit in many European cities and US cities including NYC's subways. I'm not worried about the cars being dirty, smelly, slow, or ugly. I don't care about spray paint or windows not opening....I'm only on there for 30 minutes. I understand that the vast majority of the time personal safety is not an issue. Yet, I also have been told by fellow RS travelers and others that there are times (not always) that the begging has been very aggressive, and another instance when a group of 4 young men acted more in a threatening, shakedown manner rather than in a requesting/begging fashion. People on the train felt unsafe and trapped with no recourse---was it unsafe? No, bec nothing happened, but it felt threatening, not something any of us are longing for. Which is why I thought to ask for alternatives. Thanks to those who provided other options and to those who cautioned all to realize that most of the time there is nothing to fear.
erodgreg-in AL the "teeming unwashed masses" can't ride on public transportation, because there's almost no public transportation in AL(except trains to Atlanta and New Orleans, and of course, planes). There is a bus that travels from downtown to my suburb but a reporter who tried it said it took over 2 hours(for a 30 min trip) when it wasn't even rush hour.
We took it twice and never had a problem. Yes, it is grungy but not unsafe.
Be alert as you always should be when traveling.
We booked our private Pompeii Tour via https://www.pompeiitours.it/, and the experience was fantastic.
The tour guide was very friendly and has good local knowledge.
He stayed with us most of the time and kept us informed and entertained.
Yet, I also have been told by fellow RS travelers and others that
there are times (not always) that the begging has been very
aggressive, and another instance when a group of 4 young men acted
more in a threatening, shakedown manner rather than in a
requesting/begging fashion. People on the train felt unsafe and
trapped with no recourse---was it unsafe? No, bec nothing happened,
but it felt threatening, not something any of us are longing for.
SuzieeQQ, that's probably fairly accurate. It's like this. If you're in a good mood, not tired or jetlagged, these minstrels or wastrels--depending on your point of view--are amusing and good for a story to be told when you get home. If you have bags, or the CV is crowded, or you're at the end of a long day, it's more like who wants to put up with that crap? Someone gets in my face when I'm like that & my patience level is nil, chances are I'll get confrontational, which probably wouldn't end well for either of us.
We rode 4 times during the day in early March, and it was fine. A couple of drunkards, a couple on-off bongo/squeezebox 'musicians' that raised a racket, and they were largely ignored by everyone, us included. But when we originally arrived at Naples Centrale from Rome, we hired a private driver to take us to Sorrento, costing us about 85 Euro more than if we had taken the CV. In hindsight, money well spent.
Take your choice.
